What we’re planning to do
In partnership with the University of Sussex, The Brilliant Club have used research evidence and school leader insights to design an attainment raising programme that supports both students and teachers.
Why we’re doing it
Students from less advantaged backgrounds are 18 months behind their more advantaged peers by the time they take their GCSEs. This has a significant impact on their chances of progressing to university, as attainment is the biggest predictor of whether a student will enter higher education. We know that schools work hard to support these students already, and that additional tutoring can help to ensure they don’t miss out on the grades they need to progress to university in the future.
Make your Mark is targeted at Year 10 students because GCSE attainment is an important indicator of future participation in HE. Students will take part in twelve 1-hour tutorials delivered by a trained undergraduate tutor in small groups. The tutorials will be focused on English or Maths curriculum and will explicitly focus on teaching students study strategies, which have been shown to improve academic achievement. These strategies have also been shown to have proven impact on attainment in other subjects.
Teachers from participating schools will have access to two 1-hour CPD sessions on the science of learning, delivered by The Brilliant Club’s Research and Impact Team. The remote sessions will top and tail the programme and will include an introduction to the cognitive processes that underpin learning as well as strategies and practical tips for effective learning in the classroom.
The first pilot is launching in January 2023 on the South Coast and places on the programme are part-funded by the University of Sussex. We are asking schools to make a contribution of £700 per placement, which includes the 12 tutorials for five students and the teacher CPD sessions. Pilot schools will play a key role in shaping what the programme could look like in future years. The Brilliant Club will evaluate the pilot in 2023 to inform how the programme can be expanded in its second year.
You can read more about Make your Mark via the button below.
We will be running the pilot programme for 100 students this year and require schools to register students by the beginning of December. To avoid missing out on a place, please email us to discuss further or if you have any questions.
Following the pilot, we hope to roll out Make Your Mark in different areas of the UK for more students. Please get in touch if you are a school or university interested in taking part in Make Your Mark in the future.